Product test
Ultrahuman tested: this smart ring works without a plan
by Lorenz Keller
RingConn review: this ring scores points with its battery and price
21.8.2024
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
The smart Ring from RingConn is your ideal companion: inconspicuous, unobtrusive, enduring – but always there when I want hard numbers.
Each smart ring manufacturer sets its own priorities. Pioneer Oura offers comprehensive tracking in the fitness sector, but requires a subscription for this. Ultrahuman focuses on tips and data analysis with the Ring Air, but has so far neglected the sports and fitness sector.
The RingConn smart ring, on the other hand, focuses on the basics – tracking around the clock. It also aims to impress with clever details and an affordable price.
I wore the ring for a month.
Without a sizing kit, it’s a lucky draw
During my first smart ring test, I thought that a sizing kit was optional if you already knew your ring size. I’ve now changed my mind – learn from your mistakes.
Make sure you order a sizing kit, even if it’s a few extra francs. Still, ring models are so different that you really need to test them out beforehand anyway. A size number alone doesn’t say much.
With the Ultrahuman ring, for example, I wore size 10, which fits perfectly on my middle finger and can also work on the ring finger if necessary. With RingConn, however, I go for size 11. It’s worth wearing the test rings for a few days and trying out several of the sizes from 6 to 14.
Source: Lorenz Keller
RingConn’s sizing kit is surprisingly high quality. The touch and feel are very similar to the original. You even get high-quality colour samples in Pale Gold, Moonlit Silver and Midnight Black, making it easier to decide.
Not quite round – and you can feel it
The Smart Ring doesn’t have the shape you might expect. It isn’t completely round, but looks balanced with four rounded corners. At least that’s how it looks from the outside. Inside, it’s only flat on one quarter side – where the sensors are located. The rest of the inside is round.
Source: Lorenz Keller
To ensure your measurement is as precise as possible, the sensors have to be located at the bottom of your finger. In the RingConn, this area is additionally limited by two nubs. The benefit? You can immediately feel whether your ring is sitting correctly. However, you’ll also always feel the nubs. This is okay for me in everyday life, but it can certainly be perceived as annoying. Yet another reason to use the above-mentioned sizing kit, where the shape of the ring is reproduced exactly.
Source: Lorenz Keller
I wore the ring day and night during my test – swimming in the sea as well as when gardening. This was problem-free, since it’s waterproof and robust. However, the ring always comes into contact with other materials at the bottom of your finger. For example, if you’re holding a metal bar in my hand, the ring will rub against it. Small scratches are unavoidable, and they’re certainly more visible on the black version than on the silver one. But all ring wearers will be familiar with this kind of patina – and it’ll form on every smart ring.
If you want to keep the ring looking like new, you can buy a protector. More specifically, a transparent silicone protective cover that’s pretty expensive compared to the manufacturer’s other offers. The cover for the ring is surprisingly comfortable to wear, but it’s clearly visible. I preferred taking the ring off in critical situations – or risking a scratch.
Battery and charging: exemplary
One of the ring’s greatest strengths is its battery life. I only had to charge it every six to seven days, and that only took 90 minutes. I was never worried about an empty battery, unlike with many smartwatches. On the contrary, I sometimes almost forgot that the gadget has to recharge its batteries at some point.
A charging case with a 500 mAh battery is included. The case is reminiscent of the charging cases for in-ear headphones. It looks good and isn’t particularly large. That battery lasts for 150 days. The case is also useful if you want to take the ring off and store it safely for a few hours – it also charges at the same time.
Source: Lorenz Keller
There’s also a normal charging dock you can buy for just under 40 francs. It’s significantly smaller than the charging case, but, in my opinion, that’s the only advantage. The case is enough for me and doesn’t throw up any problems.
The app is agreeable, but it’s almost a little too shy
The ring only connects to the app and transfers all data when you launch the application on your phone. This certainly helps extend battery life. However, you don’t get any feedback in real time either.
While the competition constantly sends notifications with tips and tricks, RingConn is different. You can find information in the app as well as call up a weekly report there. You just have to do it actively and remember yourself.
Source: Lorenz Keller
This slightly novel concept is ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to receive constant notifications. However, it’d be nice if you could choose how often and for what purpose the ring should send me notifications. With RingConn, you can only activate a battery and wear reminder as well as warnings for long periods of inactivity and high heart rates.
The green and red lights of the sensors are positioned close to the edge and always light up clearly in the dark. This can be annoying at night. Incidentally, the higher brightness compared to other models wasn’t only noticed by me, but also in other tests.
Tracking: precise enough, but not for sports
In the app, you can see the Wellness level on the beautifully designed overview page. It visualises your sleep, stress, activity and vital signs and compares these with values over the last seven days.
Sleep, activity, stress and pulse are also written out. It’s worth clicking on one of the four points from time to time and looking at the details. Heart rate also includes your blood oxygen level, which is only measured during resting phases. In addition, there’s heart rate variability (HRV), which is used, for example, to measure stress and recovery during sleep.
Source: Lorenz Keller
If you want to record sports data, you have to start this in the app. So far, there are only a few sports (outdoor running, indoor running, cycling, hiking). This area is still in beta mode and will be expanded over time. If you’re serious about recording workouts, you’ll need a good smartwatch or sports watch. After all, the recorded data can be synchronised with Apple Health or Google Fit.
During my tests, I compared recorded data with data from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra I was wearing at the same time. Generally, deviations go up to a maximum of ten per cent. More importantly, the conclusions I drew from the data were identical. Happily, the watch never showed a bad value for sleep while the ring offered a good one, for example.
In a nutshell
Focuses on basics
The RingConn Smart Ring costs 70 to 100 francs less than many of its competitors – and still doesn’t require a subscription. This affordable alternative focuses on tracking various health parameters. The evaluation and interpretation of data is more limited compared to other models. In its current version, the app makes concessions when it comes to sports tracking.
But if you make the effort and regularly consults the app you’ll find interesting information about your sleep, stress levels or irregularities when relaxing.
I like the long battery life of the smart ring and the stylish, clever charging case. The not quite round shape isn’t very noticeable on the finger. You should definitely try out the sizing kit to see whether the ring with its two nubs on the inside is comfortable.
Pro
- Fair price
- Long battery life
- Well-made charging case
- Clear app without bells and whistles
- Reliable tracking
Contra
- Sports recording still in its infancy
- Ring app doesn’t send notifications
- Nubs can be felt in the ring
Header image: Lorenz Keller
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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